Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke
Herald Correspondent
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa will headline the country’s inaugural National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperatives Indaba on Friday, underscoring Government’s commitment to strengthening the sector’s contribution to economic growth and national development.
The high-level forum is expected to bring together Government, financial institutions, the private sector, development partners, cooperatives and entrepreneurs to explore ways of enhancing the sector’s role in the country’s economic transformation agenda.
The two-day indaba will be held under the theme: “Towards Vision 2030: Building an Enabling Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperatives Ecosystem”.
Speaking at a media briefing in Harare yesterday, Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, said the gathering marks a major milestone in the country’s efforts to harness the full potential of MSMEs and cooperatives through enhanced policy dialogue, stakeholder collaboration and investment promotion.
“It is my privilege to announce that the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development will convene the Inaugural National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperatives Indaba on July 16 and 17 at the Harare International Conference Centre,” she said.
“This landmark national event will be officially graced by President Mnangagwa, underscoring the strategic importance Government attaches to the SME and Cooperative sectors as key drivers of economic growth and national development.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said the indaba will identify practical solutions to challenges affecting the sector, while strengthening collaboration among key stakeholders.
“The indaba will facilitate dialogue on policy and regulatory reforms, strengthen collaboration among key stakeholders, promote business formalisation and develop strategies to enhance export competitiveness,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“It will also support the establishment of a more responsive ecosystem that provides MSMEs and Cooperatives with improved access to finance, markets, technology, innovation and business development services.”
She said the indaba comes as Zimbabwe accelerates the implementation of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), with Government recognising MSMEs and cooperatives as critical drivers of employment creation, value addition, poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth, particularly for women, youth and rural communities.
“It has been conceived as a high-level strategic platform to strengthen the contribution of MSMEs and Cooperatives to the country’s economic transformation agenda through enhanced policy dialogue, stakeholder collaboration and investment promotion,” she said.
“As Zimbabwe accelerates the implementation of the National Development Strategy 2, Government recognises Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperatives as critical enablers of employment creation, value addition, poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth, particularly for women, youth and rural communities.
“Their contribution to industrialisation, financial inclusion and the strengthening of domestic value chains remains indispensable.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said the importance of the sector is reflected in its significant contribution to the economy.
MSMEs contribute at least 60 percent of Zimbabwe’s Gross Domestic Product and account for more than 70 percent of enterprises operating in the country, she said.
Women own over 56 percent of these enterprises, highlighting the sector’s significant role in advancing women’s economic empowerment.
daniel chigunwe